The history of USTC
Looking to the future
USTC Today
In March 2022, Selected Car Group merges with Solid Leasing, owned by Lars Larsen Group, under the brand Selected Car Group and becomes the largest company for leasing premium cars and investing in special cars in Denmark.
In June 2022, Nina Østergaard Borris takes over from her father as CEO of USTC, while Torben continues as Chairman of the company’s board and remains actively involved in the Group. Mia Østergaard Rechnitzer steps into USTC’s executive management as Chief Governance Officer, and the circle is complete.
Unit IT buys solvo it and ESG is a focus point in all USTC companies. The Group’s first Sustainability Reports are launched in September 2022 and September 2023.
In 2024 Unit IT buys GlobalConnect Outsourcing Services and almost doubles the number of employees.
On 21st of June 2024 USTC founder Torben Østergaard-Nielsen celebrates his 70th birthday.
Unit IT buys Solvo IT and ESG is a focus point in all USTC companies. The Group’s first Sustainability Reports are launched in September 2022 and September 2023.
In 2024 Unit IT buys GlobalConnect Outsourcing Services and almost doubles the number of employees.
On 21st of June 2024 USTC founder Torben Østergaard-Nielsen celebrates his 70th birthday.
The next generation
2020 is a milestone for the USTC Group in many ways
In January, Nina Østergaard Borris takes on the role as COO of USTC.
In June, the Østergaard family announces a successful generational handover. The three family members now control one third each.
Later the same year, SDK (former Julius Mortensen) buys FREJA Transport & Logistics and forms SDK FREJA, which catapults the group’s shipping & logistics activities to new heights.
And in 2021, USTC adds an exciting sustainable activity to the Group, when the majority ownership of CM Biomass is acquired. CM Biomass is the largest independent trader of wood pellets and the 5th largest producer in the world.
The pieces of today are coming together
Establishing Self invest as the new family office
In 2015, the Østergaard family establishes Selfinvest as their family office. Besides asset management and investments, the family office’s purpose and objective is to create the framework for the Østergaard family’s active ownership of the Group.
Outforce buys MindZet and it-Craft, and forms Unit IT as we know it today and adds HostHouse to the group.
SDK United
Shipping.dk (the former Julius Mortensen) continues its acquisition spree, and in 2018 unites all companies under one name – SDK. The companies include:
TransFargo, FAC, Waterway Shipping, Frederikshavn Shipping, Rasmus Christensen Shipping APS, DK Control, Chr. Rørholms Eftf. ApS, Thomas Wang A/S, Danish Stevedore A/S, TF Freight, JGJ, Randers Agencies ApS and Franck & Tobiesen.
Business and passion
Selected Car Croup
In 2018, Torben Østergaard becomes the sole owner of Selected Car Group – a business and a universe built on the passion for cars – premium leasing cars, sports cars, collector’s items, investment cars, and race cars, just to name a few.
Fuelling the shipping industry
While Bunker Holding buys and opens companies in USA, South Africa, Australia, Canada, Cyprus, Dubai and Denmark, Dan-Bunkering expands to Dubai, Chile, Uruguay, USA and Singapore, and Brilliant Maritime Services (today Baseblue) opens offices in Hong Kong and Indonesia. The Bunker Holding Group is literally fueling the shipping industry on every continent.
Back in Middelfart, our very own internal IT-department becomes an independent company – Outforce – offering its strong IT competencies and services to clients across Denmark. In 2007, Outforce (today Unit IT) moves into our newbuild at Strandvejen 7 to gain their independence and grow their business.
Uni-tankers and many more
Uni-Tankers – our oil & chemical tanker shipping company – was founded in 1995. With a combined fleet of owned and chartered vessels they operate worldwide as experts in liquid cargo.
In 1998, Torben Østergaard becomes the sole owner of the USTC Group that includes Uni-Tankers, Bunker Holding, and Julius Mortensen Shipping (today SDK).
The bunker activities continue to grow under the Bunker Holding umbrella. Bunker Holding buys Topoil in Sweden (today Bunker One) and Bridge Oil in London (today KPI OceanConnect).
Dan-Bunkering adds an office in China and Brilliant Maritime Services (today Baseblue) is now present in Singapore and Argentina. Global Risk Management is formed as a separate company providing customised hedging solutions.
M/T Fionia Swan
M/T Fionia Swan – Uni-Tankers’ first newbuild tanker is named by Mia Østergaard in Middelfart Harbour in 1995.
Expansion
The bunker activities are expanding – nationally, internationally and in m²
Dan-Bunkering opens an office in Copenhagen, and the first international bunker companies see the light of day: Brilliant Maritime Services in Athens, Greece (today Baseblue) and Scandinavian Bunkering in Tønsberg, Norway (today Glander International Bunkering).
In Middelfart, the office in Brogade is bursting at the seams and a new head office takes shape at Strandvejen 5 – ready for move-in in 1995.
A new talent
Havnegade 71 and dan-bunkering
Julius Mortensen buys the local shipbroker H. Sommer’s Eftf. in 1974 and in 1978 a young Torben Østergaard is appointed managing director (although technically still a trainee).
Torben Østergaard sees the need for an independent bunker company and establishes Dan-Bunkering in 1981, at first in Havnegade then Brogade, Middelfart. Many of the colleagues from the 80’s in Havnegade and Brogade are still part of the Group.
To the right is a picture om Havnegade 71. The office of H. Sommer’s Eftf. in Middelfart (today the building is owned by Selfinvest – the Østergaard family’s holding company).
The beginning of USTC
Julius Mortensen
Julius Mortensen established the shipbroker company ‘Julius Mortensen’ in October 1876. The company had its head office in Prinsessegade, Fredericia from 1876 to 2003. Julius Mortensen continued as a family-owned business, from generation to generation, and a hundred years later – in 1976 – the great grandson of Julius Mortensen headed the shipping company.
In 2026, The USTC Group can celebrate its 150 year jubilee as ‘Julius Mortensen’ (today SDK) is where the journey began.
Career
Do you want to shape the next step in the ustc timeline?
The USTC Group is a family business with emphasis on core values, great history and a strong culture. We are constantly evolving and always looking for new talent. We want to hire the best and continue to set the best team for our organisation.
Explore exciting career opportunities and make a difference with USTC. Your future starts here.
